IIUI Students Protest Against Hostel Eviction and Administrative Failures

Staff Report:

Hundreds of students from the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), along with lawyers, civil society representatives, journalists, and other student organizations, gathered in front of the National Press Club to protest against the unjust eviction and relocation of around 4,000 students from IIUI hostels.

The protest was organized by the IIUI Students Alliance, which condemned the university administration for mishandling student accommodations and finances.Education Ministry, CDA sign MoU on IT internships program

In August, the university issued a sudden notice, giving hostel students only three days to vacate their rooms, leading to widespread chaos as they were relocated to different hostels. Many students, unable to return in time to collect their belongings, had them confiscated by the administration, in violation of their fundamental right to privacy.

“Without any sufficient reason, the summer semester was shifted online, and thousands of students were left without accommodations, forced to find housing outside the university,” said Ali Shan Tarar. Student leader Zeeshan Ali expressed his frustration, stating, “We paid for our hostel seats, yet the administration has evicted us without any consideration for our well-being.

The belongings of hundreds of students were seized, and now we are left to fend for ourselves in a capital that is not friendly to students.”

In addition to the evictions, the university administration has demanded extra charges for electricity, gas, and transportation—expenses that were already included in the semester fees. Student leader Umair Malik criticized this move, saying, “These additional monthly charges are not only unjust but also a clear sign of the administration’s failure to run the university. We demand that these charges be immediately revoked.”

The protesters also highlighted the shrinking academic opportunities at IIUI. The administration has drastically cut admissions, with many departments seeing new enrollments reduced from 200 to just 50 this year. “The university is being run by a failed administration,” said Rajesh Kumar. “They are cutting admissions and hiring visiting faculty, leaving our academic future uncertain.”

The students made several demands, including an end to the illegal occupation of hostel rooms, priority seating for newly admitted and final-year students, the restoration of seats for students who have paid their fees, and an end to the relocation of students to different hostels and rooms without just cause.